I thought about it for a while as I read over the challenge descriptions.

And then it hit me like a ton of brown sugar…

Project Food Blog was an excellent excuse to bake (and eat) more dessert!

I knew what I had to do.

Project Food Blog also ended up being a wonderful opportunity to push myself far out of my comfort zone and to see just what I was made of.

Three months have passed, and I am absolutely thrilled to be in the final round among such talented competitors. I have been blown away by the incredible level of talent expressed by so many amazing bloggers throughout the competition and I feel so honoured to be here today!

For my last post in Project Food Blog, I thought it would be fun to turn back the clock and share the lessons I have learned for each challenge.

Lesson #1: Know Where You’re Going, But Never Forget Where You’ve Been.

From hot pink polka dots to hot cross buns, I told you my story in a playful poem for my first entry of Project Food Blog.

I had so much zest for life when I was a little girl, but somewhere along the way I lost myself to an eating disorder that haunted me for over 10 years. As a young adult, I didn’t know who I was or what I wanted out of life. I thought a fancy title or high paying career would bring me the happiness that I sought, but I was sadly mistaken.

I started Oh She Glows on October 31, 2008 as a commitment to beat my disordered eating, connect with other women, and redefine my relationship with food and health. Several months later, I found the courage to quit my unfulfilling research career, vowing to find my true calling in life.

Months later I opened my own bakery and I pursued my blog full time.

It was one of the best decisions I have ever made.

Lesson #2: Find Inspiration and Then Make It Your Own

Inspiration is all around us!

My motto is to find what inspires you and then add your own signature twist to it. I don’t expect you to bake or cook like me, but I do encourage you to find what makes you glow in your own kitchen.

In Challenge #2, we were asked to tackle a foreign cuisine. I chose to re-create a classic French Tarte Aux Fraises with a fun vegan twist. I actually ended up liking it better than the original tart I sampled in Paris.

Shhh, our little secret. ;)

Lesson #3: Cultivate New Traditions

Traditions make us feel all warm and fuzzy inside, but trying new things can be fun too!

In Challenge #3, we were asked to host a luxury dinner party. I decided to host my First Annual Vegan Thanksgiving creating 16 Thanksgiving recipes for my family and friends. Initially, I was afraid that no one would want to attend, but some of my guests told me that it was the best Thanksgiving dinner they ever had.

Although, they may have just wanted the last slice of Pumpkin Pie Brownie…

Lesson #4: Sometimes You Have To Figure It Out As You Go

I don’t have all the answers, but sometimes I wish I did…

In challenge #4, we were asked to create a step-by-step recipe tutorial, and I decided to make vegan Gingerbread Caramel Pear and Spiced Apple Upside Down Cakes. After several baking flops, I was reminded that sometimes I need to figure it out as I go!

And besides, successful outcomes are much more satisfying after you fail a few times…

Lesson #5: Kneading Dough Is Cheap Therapy

The other working title for this lesson was ‘The Thought of Making Pizza Dough Gives Me A Hot Flash’.

I don’t know about you, but my stomach always trumps fear, so I poured myself a glass of wine and made trial after trial of pizza dough, testing all kinds of weird and wonderful recipes. Several hours later, with myself and my kitchen covered in flour, I conquered my Pizza Complex and worked out some stress in the process.

The Roasted Tomato, Onion, and Basil Pesto Pizza was a smashing success!

Lesson #6: Food Can Taste Indulgent and Be Good For You At The Same Time

In challenge #6, we were asked to hit the road with a cooler full of portable food.

I created a ‘Going The Distance’ Vegan Energy Lunch that fuelled us through a 7 mile hike. As an added bonus, the lunch was waste-free and brimming with healthy energy foods such as homemade fruit roll-ups, Pumpkin Spice Lattes, chili, homemade rolls, energy truffles, apple chips, and cakes in a jar.

We were carbo-loading, after all. ;)

Lesson #7: Don’t Take Yourself Too Seriously

I have learned to embrace my inner dork.

I sleep much better at night now.

Initially, the video challenge made me want to run for the hills, but once I decided to just have fun with the video everything fell into place. After 3 weeks of planning and recipe testing, 1.5 days of shooting, and 60 hours of editing video footage, it was very satisfying to watch the video when it was all said and done!

My inner dork is now exposed and there is no turning back.

I’m ok with that.

Lesson #8: Sometimes You Just Need To Splurge

For the pumpkin challenge, I decided to create a pumpkin recipe I hadn’t seen before- Pumpkin Pie Cinnamon Rolls– and then turn it into a splurge-worthy holiday breakfast that I will be making for my family on Christmas morning.

Let’s face it, sometimes you just need cream cheese frosting and Bourbon first thing in the morning. ;)

Lesson #9: Sit Back, Relax, and Let Someone Else Cook For You!

Going out to eat is a rare occasion for us, but when we do it is a real treat. I was so inspired by my experience at The Coup restaurant, I bought their cookbook and adapted several recipes that I could enjoy at home whenever the craving strikes…which has been too many times to count!

Despite everything I have learned from Project Food Blog, there is one lesson I have known sinceday one.

Lesson #10: Never Forget Those Who Have Inspired, Helped, and Supported You Along The Way.

In just a few years time, I have transformed the way I see myself allowing my passion and love for food to flourish after many years of denial. I have unleashed this great passion and fire inside of me and there is no turning back.

In large part, I have all of you– my family, friends, and the wonderful blogging community- to thank. I am so grateful to be a part of such a wonderful group of inspiring individuals and I hope that in return, I can inspire you to find what makes you happy.

As an expression of my gratitude, I decided to incorporate the lessons I have learned throughout the competition and create a new twist on my all-time favourite childhood dessert…

Meet: The Nanaimo Bar.

Speculated to originate in the 1950’s from a woman living in Nanaimo, British Columbia, these no-bake bars are always a staple on my family’s holiday baking list.

The graham coconut base is a cross between a coconut macaroon and a graham crust, with a chewy, moist, and chocolaty flavour that is impossible to resist. A rich chocolate coating covers the creamy and thick vanilla custard buttercream, making this dessert an irresistible crowd pleaser.

I baked some delicious homemade graham crackers to use in my base mixture.

The graham crackers have a sweet, nutty flavour with a kick of rich molasses. They were perfect in this bar recipe.

Every Christmas Eve, I used to help my mom and sister bake Nanaimo Bars, sneaking nibbles of chocolate and licks of buttercream frosting whenever my mom wasn’t looking. When I told my mom that I wanted to create a fun take on Nanaimo Bars for Challenge #10, she dug up her recipe that has been in the family for several decades.

I used her recipe for inspiration and I added my own signature twist, creating three delicious flavours: Classic Vanilla, Mint Chip, and Pomegranate Almond Vegan Nanaimo bars.

The Classic Vanilla Nanaimo Bars turned out so similar to my childhood favourite, I couldn’t even notice the difference!

I also made Mint ChipNanaimo Bars with a burst of peppermint flavour and a crunchy candy topping. In lieu of using artificial green food colouring, I used fresh spinach juice that worked out amazing. Don’t worry, you can’t taste the spinach at all. :)

Last but not least, I made Pomegranate Almond Nanaimo Bars made up of fresh Pomegranate juice (for the gorgeous pink colour) and pure almond extract for a delicious aroma and flavour that blended together wonderfully with the chewy coconut and graham crumb base.

For all of the Nanaimo Bar recipes, please see the attached PDF file. I will also be posting a step-by-step photo tutorial of the 3 Nanaimo Bar flavours this week. :)

The bars taste amazing paired with this creamy Peppermint Nog made up of almond and coconut milk, peppermint extract, mint tea, and a touch of sweetener.

I always assumed that this childhood dessert would be something I would have to miss out on as a vegan, but I now believe that the sky is the limit when it comes to adapting recipes!

While I learned so many valuable lessons in Project Food Blog, the ultimate lesson I take away from this contest is that anything is possible.

Project Food Blog has changed me forever. My fire and passion for healthy food, recipe creation, photography, and writing is stronger than ever and I now feel like I can do anything if I set my mind to it.

In the words of Eleanor Roosevelt, we must do the thing we think we cannot do.

I am happy to say this girl is in a good place,

Some say you can now see the glow upon her face.

The moral of the story is to never accept what you think is your fate,

For sometimes you must pave a new road and go create.

I thank you for your amazing support during Project Food Blog and for your constant encouragement, inspiration, and positivity!

Should you wish to support my efforts, voting is NOW OPEN! Thank you so much for your support! :)

The sheer amount of work throughout this whole process has just FLOORED ME!!! You, and anyone else, who has made it this far has dare I say 100’s if not 1000’s of hours into this thing! From recipe development, groc shopping, preparing/making/cooking, photographing, then blogging about it all…my god woman, you deserve to be where you’re at with this project. It’s like a dissertation..takes on a life of it’s own!

Just this one post..must have taken hours to create. I am amazed by your hard work! And of course, the recipes themselves, the photos, truly beautiful works of art!

I’ll be voting for you first thing in the morning…you have done such an incredible job and I was so excited to see your veganized Nanaimo bars…I’m from Victoria and Nanaimo bars have also had a place on our family’s Christmas menu for decades. My Mom has a Nanaimo Bar recipe card identical to yours, spots and all!

Your post just filled my heart with so much love. Love of your story, your spirit, and how blessed I am to have found this blog. I really feel I can do anything! I have a difficult final exam tomorrow and I’m glad I read this in my study break. I wish you the best for this competition and will definitely vote for you as always! <3

All your posts have been wonderful! I love these lessons and those bars look amazing and so colorful. One of my favorite things is how you make different versions of the recipe – I always want to try all the versions right away.

What an awesome post and even more awesome lessons! Thank you for all the time and effort you put into sharing what you learn and what you create with us…your blog was the first I ever read and I absolutely love seeing new posts of yours pop up in my Google Reader. Keep up the amazing journey with health and best of luck with the last round of voting!

What a great post Ang!! I haven’t been here the last week or two (I just had a baby girl!! (: ) but I came to check today and am so glad I did!! Those bars look FABULOUS, like everything you make. Good luck with the final challenge!!!!

Wow! Thses are incredible! What an ORIGINAL idea! The amount of time, effort and creativity that you put into these challenges is nothing short of amazing! Voting for you from the start and all the way to the end! You deserve this! Cheers!

Wow Ange! You’ve gone above and beyond for PFB and you definitely deserve the title and more. I only lasted to challenge #3 (haha) but even in those 3 weeks, I learned so much about myself and it challenged me to expand my cooking, baking, and writing skills.

I cannot even IMAGINE going months on end with PFB. You are amazing. Congrats to you for making it to the last round. I wish you all the best!!

Nothing short of amazing. You have worked so hard and as a reader I enjoy everything you have put into it. You have definitely gone out with a bang also. I will be voting for sure, just remind us. :) Best of luck I hope you win and I will enjoy seeing more of your recipes in the future.

Looking forward to the homemade graham crackers recipe! Graham crackers aren’t available here and I’d been wanting to make nanaimo bars since coming back from Canada. Some of my globars even made it back to NZ- well travelled little snacks!

Looking forward to the homemade graham crackers recipe! Graham crackers aren’t available here and I’d been wanting to make nanaimo bars since coming back from Canada. Some of my globars even made it back to NZ- well travelled little snacks!

This is incredible. Ever since discovering your blog, it’s been one of my very favorites. You’ve provided me with so much inspiration, and encouraged me to let go of so many fears of foods I still had. Every single post in this competition has been truly amazing, and you definitely have my vote!!

Beautiful post! If I am completely honest I have always thought of you as above me, you are always so perfect, it is, in a way, comforting to know we all struggle with the same things sometimes.

Blogging really can be an amazing thing, can’t it? In my three months of blogging I have really learned some things about myself and have worked to push myself out of my comfort zone more than I ever have before.

Angela – my most favorite desert bar – Nanaimo Bars. I just LOVE these.
Can’t wait to try all the flavours – they look wonderful.
Also, can’t wait to vote for you tomorrow, again….
Wish you very best of luck

Your posts just get better and better! Thank you for continuing to share great recipes, your warmth and your bright, positive attitude! Your blog always makes me smile :-) Good luck with the Project Food Blog- you know you have my vote!

You are an inspiration Angela & your efforts have been nothing short of amazing! You continue to help me feel encouraged & work hard to see food, exercise and my body in a new, much more positive light.. thank you!

Ange, this post is an absolute winner! It is the best post yet- and I have thought that every single PFB post you’ve done is brilliant. This one exceeds even the brilliance of the others! It’s perfect! I love it!!

Congratulations Ange, you are such a positive and inspiring force in the blogging community. And if you haven’t been approached to write a vegan cookbook by now…..well, I think it’s only a matter of time :) good luck with the project food blog comp and beyond, you’re already a winner, well and truly xx

you are amazing, an inspiration, and a truly lovely woman…this post brought tears to my eyes because even though i didn’t make it past level 4 in the challenge there was an insane amount of stuff that i learned about myself!

i hope you win! i’ve followed your blog from the beginning, i think mostly because i relate a lot to your past but want to be like you in my future :) your recipes are amazing – you have a true gift in the (vegan) kitchen! congrats on following your dreams, and for sharing everything with us interested readers

It’s been so fun to follow you (and vote for you) each step of the way. I LOVE that you incorporated a recipe into every single post- not everyone did that. I’m still waiting for the s’more cake-in-a-jar recipe, though ;-)

I’ve already made the Club Med Salad and I’m obsessed with the coconut chai latte from The Coup cookbook. Keep those recipes coming (if it’s okay with the owners, that is)! Trust me, next time my husband and I go to Banff (we went there for our honeymoon) we’ll be stopping at The Coup on the way.

Beautiful post! You are doing great things in this world ….and even greater by veganizing the mint nanaimo bar – those are my favourite! I feel like this contest is more exciting than the Olympics – go Canada go!! Best of luck, you’ve got my vote (obviously!).

no doubt i’ll be voting too. angela, you’ve shown me so much about how one can be healthy while still being kind to yourself. im talking mostly about mental health, the relationship with food. i know that my young-girl self had a zest for life too and somewhere along the way she got lost and the anxious adult version started to overrule. i love that quote by eleanor roosevelt.

Yours was the first blog I ever read! I remember spending hours reading through your past entries and with each post I read, I gained more and more inspiration to get over my disordered eating. You’re truly inspirational and you deserve to win! :D

I love this post! It kind of brought tears to my eyes because I am at a point in life where I just graduated college in a field that was chosen for me and I thought it would bring me happiness in the end because of the name and the monetary benefits but I couldn’t be any unhappier and when you said “find what makes you glow in your own kitchen” it really hit home for me. Thank you!!

P.S. Do you have a recipe for vegetarian/vegan chili? I’ve been looking everywhere for one and I cannot seem to find one.

Thank you…I wish you all the best with your current situation. I know you will pull through!

The chili recipe is in challenge #6 post (linked in a pdf) I found the link for you so you wouldn’t have to search for it! http://ohsheglows.com/docs/roadtrip.pdf The chili is AMAZING, I hope you enjoy it! I need to make a big batch and freeze it for the winter :)

What have I been doing every Monday (when applicable) for Project Food Blog? Voting for Angela of course! So, guess what I will be doing tomorrow? ;) Thanks for the yummy bar recipe…and the pdf file! I now know what I am going to make for my family’s annual cookie this weekend!! Thanks you too for such a lovely, warming, heartfelt post. So happy for you!!!

I will of COURSE be voting tomorrow!! I swear you read my mind.. I was just talking about Nanaimo bars — I haven’t made them since I’ve become a vegan but I neeeeed them at Christmas time.
So thank you! My first vegan Christmas will be complete :)

Nanaimo bars are my favourite!!!! Thanks so much for the recipes, I will bake them as soon as my cookie belly subsides (ive been baking for a bake sale, and lets just say, not all the cookies made it into container)

Nanimo bars are my absolute FAVOURITE!!! And I am soooo excited to try your vegan version (and the non-traditional ones too!!!) I am lactose intolerant and every single Christmas I make myself sick because I cannot resist nanimo bars! Now I can safely consume them and have a sore belly from eating too many instead of from the dairy, lol!! :D

On another happy note, wonderful wonderful post!! I am excited to vote for you tomorrow!!

I can’t wait to see the recipes for those delicious bars! Congrats on your success. I have made more recipes from your blog than any other blog, cookbook, etc. Thanks for being so inspiring as well as relatable :o)

Um, so I might have just planned a dinner party for next weekend because I needed a reason to make most of your project food blog recipes. Chocolate torte? Yes, please… I might have to make those Nanaimo bars too…
While I have no problem making the chocolate torte for one ;-), I’ve come to the conclusion that while I love cooking and baking, I love cooking and baking for my friends more. Oh, and then after they rave over the food, throwing out an “oh, by the way it’s vegan…”, I send them all home with post it notes with your URL written on it. I hear a lot of “it’s from ANGELA’S BLOG!!” now at gatherings… you’re on a first name basis with my friends ;)

Those bars are beautiful! I especially love that you used spinach juice to color the peppermint one. Genius! I have been amazed at all the work that you put into these posts. They are definitely some of the best posts you’ve ever done and were a treat to read and try the recipes from. I especially love your gorgeous photography and the things you utilize as props. I really hope you win!!!!

This post made me tear up a little. Your story is so inspiring, and congratulations on your success with Project Food Blog!

Thank you so much for providing a vegan nanaimo bar recipe. I grew up in western Canada and the first dessert I ever made by myself as a kid was mint nanaimo bars. After I went vegan, I thought I would never have them again. I can guarantee these will make numerous appearances in my kitchen <3

I got teary reading this!! (And I am NOT one to cry – I’ve never cried in a movie. Ever.) Ange, congratulations on how far you’ve come – both in life and in Project Food Blog. You are such an enormous inspiration and I’m so proud to know you! I am sure I’ll be congratulating you again very soon because I totally think you’ll be the winner of all of this, but in the meantime, good luck in round 10! You have my vote for sure!! :D

What a great post! I will be voting for you! I swear being from BC doesn’t matter though, I’d vote regardless :D Yum, nanaimo bars <3

Also, I was just thinking about how awesome a vegan nog recipe would be. The only recipes I can find have tofu in them. Yuck. I know any version you create would be amazing. You don't happen to have a traditional egg nog recipe do you? :)

I really can’t even believe all of the recipes you created for this challenge. It’s more than impressive and you ended it with quite the bang. Those bars look extremely delicious and so so pretty. Are you using a light box or light/umbrella set up now? Cute props + backgrounds, etc. Good luck love!! xo

I will definitely be voting again! This is such a great post too. I have you to thank for getting me in the kitchen and trying some of your recipes, and for someone who hates cooking with a passion usually, that’s a big deal!

Congratulations on making it to the final! Very well deserved :D Congratulations, too, on such a heartfelt and memorable blog entry. I love all of your posts, but this one really packs a punch (in a good way!). You’ve made some incredible changes in your life and inspired so many others – myself included.

You are beyond amazing. I check your blog every day excited for what recipe you’ve come up with so I can get to work in my own kitchen. I also think it’s cool that when you comment on the weather I look out my window and say “yup, that about right”. I live in St. Catharines so we pretty much experience the same weather.:) Anyway I hope you win and even if you don’t just know you’ve won my heart and a few of my family members too because I’ve sent the link to your blog to them and they love it. I look forward to your future blogs …the best of luck to you Angela.♥

WOW beautiful beautiful post!! you are such an inspiration. loved all the lessons and how you tied your entire project food blog experience together….you have worked so so hard, above and beyond expectations…your passion is so evident. i loved the ending -anything is possible!! fantastic way to end it. you have had my vote the entire time. i am so pumped to make your nanaimo bars! big fan.

Angela, just one thing. You made me sign up on FoodBuzz so that I can vote for you. I wish I can split myself into hundreds so I can vote for you tons and tons. I really wish you all the best and can’t wait till the voting begin. Love love love your creations.
Crystal.

What a beautiful post. Both the lessons you shared and the photos are really beautiful! I really appreciate your positive attitude and find it inspiring. I also have enjoyed making several of your recipes, although I am not vegan. I like to come back and see what else you’ve come up with. Good luck with the challenge!

I am so excited that you made it this far. I have tried several recipes and have loved everyone of them so much!! You bring something so wholesome and delicious to us almost everyday. Thank you for being such an inspiration!! <3

I cannot even begin to tell you how much you’ve helped me (without even knowing it) over the last few months, since I found your blog. I could write paragraph after paragraph here now about how you’ve encouraged me to eat, to experiment with vegan food and baking, to try running or dancing to get my metabolism kicking – to not give up, even when I’ve felt like recovery is impossible. So many people write food blogs, and lots of them are great, but OSG isn’t just your run-of-the-mill ‘anecdote/photo/recipe’ blog – it matters, somehow, and it gives me hope. So, I won’t go on and on here. But I will tell you that you can most definitely count on my vote.

There’s not much that I can say about how amazing you are, Angela! I have absolutely loved this contest and always, ALWAYS looked forward to what you had in store! You’re such an inspiring woman and constantly stir up my inner baking diva! My boyfriend has no idea how much he has to thank you for the extra 5lbs he’s gained over the last year!

And I was just discussing with him that I think everyone has beat-up, stained and positively cherished old lined recipe cards from parents or grandparents lying around! That copy of the recipe for nanaimo bars looks exactly like the ones I have stashed away! :)

And, I LOOOOOOVE nanaimo bars!?!?! I mean really, how can you not?!

Good luck, Angela, not that you need it! Your talent will bring you through to the end!

This is probably going to sound so silly, but I’ve been waiting for voting to open so I can do it this morning before I head off to class, and someone at Food Buzz must’ve set their clock to go backwards or something. The time until voting opens is going up from 9AM!

Angela, this is so lovely. Reading these PFB posts over the last couple of months has been a really amazing experience. You’ve brought your blogging to an entirely new level. It is so professional and *GORGEOUS* – sometimes I get a little teary reading it. I’m in such awe of you! Unbelievable that you are doing it basically by yourself, from your own home! I am so proud of you for finding what you were truly meant to do and sharing it with us. I’m a teacher, doing something very different from you, but OSG still inspires me to be creative and take what I do further and make it better. Thank you and YAY! xoxo

Good luck, Angela! I’ve been voting for you all along, and I truly think this entry is your best one yet! You totally deserve all your Readers’ Choice wins and, of course, to be the winner of the grand finale!

I cried throughout the entire post. No joke.
I don’t know how to put into words why I cried, or how I felt when reading it.
Hearing, or rather seeing, you write this out, I guess I could feel your passion and happiness for everything, and I got to feel and see how much work you put into everything.
You are so amazing. I can only aspire to have a quarter of the passion and work ethic you do.
:)

I desperately wanted a wedding cake made entirely of Nanimo Bars. My Mom vetoed the idea, and to this day it’s the only thing I would change about my wedding -why did I ever let her talk me out of that one?

I absolutely loved the look back and your recipes and pictures are amazing. While I don’t make a lot of them (trying to determine how to make everything gluten-free is certainly a pain!) I love the ideas you have and the inspiration it gives me to explore new things in the kitchen.

wow Angela. these look gorgeous. good luck! I don’t know that I could be as committed to veganism as I’ve been able to be if I hadn’t stumbled upon your blog (I don’t know that I’d ever think of being a vegan if it weren’t for you and your blog for that matter!). you are truly an inspiration! you deserve to win this!!

You deserve to be the new Food Blog Winner. You show so much enthusiasm and inspiration to all of us. No pretensions, and full of inspiration, love and joy! I am looking forward for more of your posts! I am congratulating you in advance! Cheers!

I found your blog after you had completed most of the challenge but it has been So Much Fun following your posts and back tracking your past entries. Seriously, this is one of my most favorite blogs of all time. You are Amazing and I look forward to what is coming next on Oh She Glows!

Hi Angela! Good luck with the competition =) I just wanted to tell you that your blog has inspired me to start my own! I am currently struggling with calorie counting and I’m hoping that by blogging I can battle the numbers game, just as you did. I love the photography you add in each post…have to say that my mouth always waters whenever you post a new dessert recipe! I may just have to try them over winter break! =)

I love that quote at the beginning as it says it all..you put yourself out there and created a magical experience for us readers! Your dedication and hard work have definitely paid off..I’m hoping in more ways than just confidence if you get my drift:)
All the best and thanks, as usual, for sharing the recipes with us!!

You simply ROCK!!! I am most impressed and inspired by your authenticity!!!
Truly amazing work and I look forward to following you in the future!
I certainly put in a vote for you!!!
Cheers and congrats!

Each round, I get so excited to vote for you! I just voted one last time and will wait excitedly to hear that you won :) I look to your blog for inspiration, recipes, thoughtful posts, and beauty. You have it all. Thanks for opening your kitchen up for us each day.

I am making ALL 3 varieties to take as for Christmas to my family in Moldova!!!! (Eastern Europe) do you know how long they last, and if they will endure the 16 hour flight??? because you mentioned to serve the chilled! Please let me know!!!

I just managed to squeak my vote in! Congratulations on such a major accomplishment! You really inspire me to go out and create my own path along this wonderful and crazy little journey we call life :)

I’ll be making your mint nanaimo bar for Christmas this year! And I can’t wait for the peppermint nog recipe! Thanks for sharing your journey with us Angela.

Fellow Canadian. Fellow lover of cooking and baking. And um, Nanaimo bars? Ohh, you hit my heart with this one. :) Nanaimo bars were the FIRST thing I baked successfully, ever. I’m SO happy to see them veganized!

Additionally… This post was just beautifully written. Just fantastic. Love, love, loved all of your entries. ALL the best, truly!

Wow, wow, wow.
I can’t even begin to explain how every one of your posts impresses me, drives me closer to veganism, and fuels my own passions. You deserve to win this competition, but by the looks of it- you’ve already won so much and won OVER so many who look up to you.

Hi Angela,
I’m so happy for you, this last post was the best!! Good Luck, my fingers are crossed for you, and I think I already said this, but you really do deserve the win. There’s no other food blogger who puts everything together quite the way you do. Your passion for the food shines through in every post. You really do have the most descriptive instructions, they are so easy to follow! Also, your photos are so gorgeous that it makes me want to make every single recipe you post about!
Congratulations!!
Dawn

Congratulations, Angela, on an amazing journey through PFB! You deserve to win hands down – you obviously inspire so many people not only to eat healthy, but also to be the very best that they can be. I hope that someday I find what I’m passionate about like you have. I’ve only met you a couple times, but I’m still so proud of you, and I’ll be crossing my fingers that you win this. You have my vote!

Good Luck! I have enjoyed you blogs, they are always so creative, and beautiful! I am excited, I just found the recipe for Nanimo Bars, can not wait to try them:-) Love the spin you took on them, very colorful, and beautiful:-)

Hi Angela,
I’ve just started reading your blog for a couple of months now. It’s been a rough year and I’ve really struggled with emotional eating, binging, and dieting. I’m nineteen years old and I am trying to regain my health back and to give up the obsessing, calorie counting, guilt and comparing. I’ve been trying to break the cycle for months now and your blog has really inspired me to let go. I think the worst part of the cycle is feeling as though you have no self-control. I’m taking baby steps and I want to be free so badly. Reading your blog doesn’t make me feel guilty about where I’m at, but inspires me to be healthy and happy. Reading your victory over binge eating gives me hope that this cycle will end. God has made me beautifully and wonderfully and its time to start believing it. Thank you so much for the inspiration :) “Life is too short to get stuck in a rut”

Angela… Wow! This post is awesome. You could be styling food for a magazine. Your recipes never fail to inspire me, I love how dedicated you are to eating for health (which is so rare in the baking blog world), and I think it’s great that you respond to so many of your readers. Let your inner dork shine! You just got my vote!

Angela those look fantastic!
I’m currently struggling through a hellish finals week in grad school, but took a minute to vote and read your post as a study break. Could totally use a couple of those bars for some brain food! I’ve been a closet reader (but never a commenter) for several months now ever since you were recommended on smartprettyandawkward.com by a fellow blogger. I loved that you were a vegan baker who took an incredible amount of joy in everything you created, every mile you ran, and every picture you took! Just wanted to say thank you for introducing me to flaxseed, almond butter, CSA shares, running negative splits… I feel happier and healthier and have a better relationship with my food than ever before! Keep the posts coming and I hope you kick butt and win Project Food Blog :-)

thanks for your kind words…I love hearing from closet commenters, heh :) Goodluck with your grad finals…gosh I know what that is like and it is tough, but just keep thinking of the holiday break! :) Thanks for your vote!

You have really done an outstanding job with this project and when I just went over to cast my vote for you, I was astonished at how many Viewer’s Choice awards you got! Congratulations!!! I think you’ve got it in the bag, but even if you don’t win, you sure do have a lot to be proud of. Your entries have been colorful, well thought out, organized, and mouth watering! Just terrific work, Angela. You seem to put 100% into everything you do and I hope it will pay off for you in a big way in this competition.

Angela, you have done a fantastic job in every round of this competition. Your writing is thoughtful and endearing, and you tell a great story. Of course,the photos are beautiful as well! Congratulations for winning Reader’s Choice almost every round and making it this far!

thank you so much for your kind words…I am happy to have ‘met’ you through this wonderful competition. As I said on your post I think you are a beautiful writer, blogger, and photographer. Goodluck to you!

I really loved your reflections in your final post. Thanks for sharing the lessons you learned. They were certainly thought-provoking. Your post is, as always, beautiful. All the best in this last round!

You are so amazingly talented Angela!!! Beautiful wrap up!!! I can’t wait to try your Nanaimo bars… and I am eagerly awaiting the peppermint nog!!! As usual… you have my vote!! Can’t wait to see you win this thing!! :)

You are amazing Angela! I love this wrap up post- you’ve put so much hard work into this project, you deserve to win for sure! I showed my mom the nanaimo bars and she said “how does this woman make her baked goods look so perfect?!” haha. We’ve made many of your wonderful creations, I’m sure I’ll be making these as well.

i cannot even begin to imagine all of the time and effort you poured into this competition. it’s so obvious that your heart is in every beautiful post, recipe and picture. you have my vote and i’m rooting for you!

5 Reader’s Choice Awards throughout contest – “tweets” and “likes” galore! I must say you are certainly a front runner! I had a difficult choice voting – but in the end I truly feel you deserve this – you are an inspiration to us all – personal struggles in life is what I truly relate to. You have shined through adversity – much success to you always… Debbie

Wow! I have to say that your words are inspirational, as well as your recipes and photos. (I have to show my daughter your Vegan Cookbook, she’ll love the humour!) I have no doubt that your journey will take you to Food Blogger of the Year. I will enjoy reading about it! Thanks for your gifts.

Voting for you was a no-brainer! Reading all your posts through this challenge has made me love your website, personality, and of course recipes more than ever! Best of luck, although I don’t think you’ll need much of that ;)

Congratulations on a fantastic final post! You really do deserve to win this!! I have voted for you all the way and believe you are going to make it to the end. You are open, inspirational and I think most importantly, so relatable to the everyday girl! All us girls are fabulous in our own special, unique way, but you know what I mean ;-) I feel like you could be the neighbour next door or an old friend and I think alot of your readers feel the same. You should be so proud…not only with how amazing you’ve done in this competition, but your have come A LONG WAY!! I will be sending you tons of positive vibes b/c I know you are going to win this! Oh, and I can’t wait to try the nanaimo bars….one of all time favourite desserts!!! Good Luck Girl!

Angela,
What a wonderful final entry. I’m new to the food blogging world and happened upon yours through a post on Sparkpeople. It has been wonderful discovering all your fabulous recipes and your adventures along the way. Your recipes are very user friendly and your photographs look as if they are right out of a magazine. I had no problem voting for you all along even though your competition was fierce. Your so genuine and sincere–and your food is fabulous! I have tried several recipes and enjoyed them all with no changes. Be sure and thank your husband for sacrificing his time with you to give so much to the cooking masses. I wish you the best in the challenge and hope we can enjoy your blog for a long time to come–you add a lot to my day!

As a mother of two athletic daughters ( 21 and 14), you are an inspiration to healthy living. I found you by accident and I have been reading non-stop. I will be utilizing many of your wonderful recipes to provide some healthy nutition for my family. I will be sending some heathful care packages to my college athlete and her friends. Thank you and good luck!

The amount of effort and heart that you’ve put into each of these posts is incredible. I’m not generally one to fawn in comments, but you really are an inspiring example of someone who leaves each day with intention and passion. Good luck in this last round!

Congratulations Angela!! I was one of your first readers way back when you started – i think i started reading your blog like a week after your first post! It’s so amazing to see how far you have come – how much you have done with it! – and being able to meet you in person this summer. You have done an amazing job!!

Angela, you are such an inspiration! I don’t comment a lot, but I read your blog religiously. I even refer to you as my blog BFF. I love your creativity and positive outlook. Keep up the amazing work!!!

Beautiful post! Everything looks delicious and I love the way you’ve summarized. Congrats for working on overcoming your eating disorder. I have an eating disorder that I’m only now starting to work through and this post gives me hope for my journey to recovery. You have my vote and I wish you all the best. Merry Christmas!

Of course, I voted for you. Your efforts have been phenomenal! I’m so grateful for your spirit, blog, and wonderful vegan recipes. Best of luck in the competition; no one deserves it more! Thanks for all the work you’ve done while your readers get to reap the delicious benefits. :) FANTASTIC staging/photography, too.

Wow Angela! Absolutely Amazing as always! I love how your blogs always get me even MORE excited for the holidays! These look delicious!!! I really hope I can make my family drool over these this Christmas because this is there favorite dessert!

I just wanted to let you know that I came across your blog not too long ago and love looking at your posts for occasionally needed inspiration. Your food-ography is constantly getting better and better too, so kudos and thanks!

I LOOOOVVED(!) this post. To see everything you have created in the past couple of months is just awe-inspiring! And the fact that everything is vegan just blows my mind! I’v not tried any vegan baking as of yet, and probably would never of thought of doing so if it wasn’t for your blog, but it is definitely something I would love to tackle in the future! You are so happy and bubbly, and come across as such a positive person, and as someone who is completely lost in life (graduated this summer, can’t get a job due to recession, don’t think I even want to be a graphic designer anymore(!), plus I’m trying to loose quite a bit of weight and get healthy, which can sometimes be a huge mental strain!), to see how far you have become, and being able to do that on your own terms, gives me hope that maybe a year or two from now, I’ll be in just the same position, happy and fulfilled :)

I LOOOOVVED(!) this post. To see everything you have created in the past couple of months is just awe-inspiring! And the fact that everything is vegan just blows my mind! I’v not tried any vegan baking as of yet, and probably would never of thought of doing so if it wasn’t for your blog, but it is definitely something I would love to tackle in the future! You are so happy and bubbly, and come across as such a positive person, and as someone who is completely lost in life (graduated this summer, can’t get a job due to recession, don’t think I even want to be a graphic designer anymore(!), plus I’m trying to loose quite a bit of weight and get healthy, which can sometimes be a huge mental strain!), to see how far you have become, and being able to do that on your own terms, gives me hope that maybe a year or two from now, I’ll be in just the same position, happy and fulfilled :)

Made these for Xmas – big hit!! I used real butter though and I think I could have used about half the butter I did, because I had pooled frozen butter on the bottom. Also made your blondies in a jar as gifts, very appreciated by people. I made the cinnamon sweet potato chickpea onion salad for xmas dinner and the vegan chocolate chip cookie sandwiches (way ADDICTING). Thanks for all the wondrous recipes – can’t wait to make more!